Sleigh



(No Model.)

A. H. SAW-YER. SLBIGH.

No. 373,198. x Patented Nov. 15, 1887..

UNITED STATES- PATENT I OFFICE.

ALBERT H. SAWYER, OF WEARE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

SLEIGH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 373,198, dated November 15, 1887. 1

Application filed August 17, 1887. Serial N 0. 247,182. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ALBERT H. SAWYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Weare, in the county of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sleighs; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to sleighs, and has for its object the improvement of this class of devices, whereby they are rendered more effi cient and more agreeable to ride in, while at the same time their efficiency is increased and the draft considerably diminished.

The improvement consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, which will 1 be more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed,

and shown in theannexed drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a sleigh embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a top plan view of a runner, the spring, a portion of the bolster,

and the adjustable brace; Fig. 3, a rear detail View, parts being broken away, of one side of the running-gear. Fig. 4 is an insideview of the tube or guide in which the bracket works.

The body F of the sleigh may be of desired pattern and design, and the running-gear, to which my invention chiefly relates,is composed of the runners B, made heavy or thicker between their ends, the springs A, curved at or near their middle and having their ends connected with the ends of the runners, the bolster a, mounted upon the springs, and upon which the body A is perched and secured, and the sliding bracket proper, E, and the guide 0, interposed between the bolster and the runners to prevent any lateral thrust of the body and partially regulate the motion of the springs.

The runners may tip up at either end .or at both ends more or less. In Fig. ltheir front ends are shown curved to form a scroll, and the thills G are secured thereto. The middle portion is made heavy to support the load and prevent buckling of the runner when crossing rough or uneven places or meeting with obstructions. They gradually taper from the middle toward each end to present a pleasing outline to the eye, and to produce a saving of material and lessen the draft of the vehicle.

The springs may be of one or more pieces, and are sufficiently stout to support the load and Withstand the strain incident to turning the vehicle out of a straight line. The ends are pivotally attached to the runners, and their middle portions curve away from a plane passing vertically through the runners, so that the middle portions of the two springs curve toward and approach. each other. By such arrangement the body can be very narrow and the runners can have a comparatively broad track. Again, the peculiarconstruction of the springs adapts them to withstand a considerable amount of lateral strain, which, if straight, they would not be capable of withstanding.

The adj ust-able bracket is composed of two parts. The outer ends of the parts are connected with the ru nners and thebolster, respectively, while the inner or approximate ends are connected by a sliding j oint. so as to accommodate the bracket to the varying movements of the body. The bracket Eis secured at its upper end to the bolster, and its lower end is fitted to and slides relative to the guide G, which is pivoted at its lower end to the runner. The guide 0, as shown, is a tube closed at the lower end and slotted on one side; The slot 6 extends from near the lower end to the upper end, around which upper end a ring is secured for the purpose of closing the slot at that end after the head of the bracket has been inserted within the tube. The end of the bracket E is provided with a head, I, which fits snugly within the tube. The head I and bracket E are connected by a narrow portion, I, which fits within the slot 6. The head I is of snffi- 9o cient length to prevent binding within the tubes and'at' all times preserve a stiff joint. The parts E and G of the adjustable brace are arranged at an angle to a straight or vertical line, chiefly to allow a greater movement of the springs A; but they may be arranged perpendicularly, if so desired, and a greater number may be interposed between the body and the runners, if found necessary, particularly if the vehicle is of great length.

The springs A may be strengthened at one or more points by a brace, H, which may be perpendicular liueand interposed between and connecting the runner-spring, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination, with the runners made heavy between their ends, and the springs curved toward each other near their middle and having their ends secured to their respective runners, of the adj ustable braces interposed between the runners and the springs, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, With the runners and the spring, of the bracket connected at its upper end with the spring, and the guide secured at its lower end to the runners, and having the approximate ends of the bracket and guide connected by a sliding joint, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the runner and spring, of the guide-tube slotted on one side, and the bracket having a head fitted within the tube, and a narrow portion connecting the head with the bracket fitted within the slot in the tube, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 0 presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT H. SAWYER.

Witnesses:

ALLEN E. (Ross, ARTHUR H. HALE. 

